Apache Rose (DVD)

Roy Rogers purchases a ranch in California with the intent of drilling for oil. Inadvertently, he finds rich oil deposits on the neighboring ranch of Carlos Vega. Roy is puzzled when Vega wants to sell the land to shady speculator Reed Calhoun, rather than cash in on the fortune. He discovers that Carlos is being blackmailed. The trail of clues leads to Calhoun's off shore gambling boat, where he believes he will find who is behind the extortion.

Cited by Quentin Tarantino as one of his favorites, prolific director William Witney's five decade career was highlighted by his work on serials, most notably Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939) and Drums Of Fu Manchu (1940). Witney developed the modern technique for filming fight sequences as a series of intricately choreographed shots, crediting Busby Berkeley as his inspiration.

• western